The man Cheney shots has had a heart attack

[hubby_of_newtodisney]

Will anything happen to Cheney? I mean, if it was you or me, I would think some kind of charges would be pressed or something, even if it was an accident. Just goes to show how competent he is.

What could he be charged with? If the poor guy passes on it could be negligent homicide or involuntary homicide. When someone runs down a pedestrian with a car, there are normally charges associated. Reckless endangement, etc.

During my amateur and cursory research, I discovered some weird facts!

Normally, during an injury during hunting, no charges are filed after an investigation. Strangely, if the shooting is fatal, normally the case will make it to trial, and about 1/2 end in conviction. I say strangely because the offense is the same, only the result is different!

http://www.nbc17.com/news/2637358/detail.html

I am a proponent of gun rights. I think that you should be able to bear and use any firearm that you wish, as long as it is used responsibly. The moment that you are careless, or worse, that you intentionally misuse a firearm, your right to bear arms should be immediately taken away!

Edit: All states require that a registrant of guns shall be permitted registration as long as they operate their weapons in a "safe and lawful manner" and are "likely to operate their firearms in the same manner". If the registrant is found to violate these guidelines, (s)he will not be permitted to bear and/or discharge arms in that state.

 

[sodaseller]

Most likely sequence

1) Saturday (sometime) - shooting. Secret Service attempts to contact LE immediately, some problem due to synchronization of radios, contacts them shortly thereafter at some unspecified time via cellphone.
2) Saturday evening - Deputy attempts to arrive to interview but is sent away at gate by SS due to "miscommunication".
3) Sunday am - Sheriff's Office interviews Cheney (and likely others)
4) Press Release indicating that Sheriff's Office is content that it was an accident not subject to any further criminal investigation or charges

 

[bsnyder]

Where does the The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department report fit into the sequence? The report lists a time of 5:30 p.m., which is when the incident allegedly took place, and also details the color and type of clothing worn by Cheney and Whittington (blaze hat, vest and brown trousers) That would indicate park officials observed them at the scene but neither the report nor the news accounts I've read mention whether they were on the scene.

Anyone know?

 

[poohandwendy]

They were notified but it is unclear when Cheney was interviewed, and some evidence suggests it was not until the following day

If that is the case, then the poeple who we should be questioning, if need be, is the authoritoes involved. It is up to the authorities to do what is necessary. It is obvious they think there is nothing suspicious or criminal involved. Accident, plain and simple.

 

[sodaseller]

If that is the case, then the poeple who we should be questioning, if need be, is the authoritoes involved. It is up to the authorities to do what is necessary. It is obvious they think there is nothing suspicious or criminal involved. Accident, plain and simple.

Read the source documents. I don't disagree it is an accident, no one does. But I have a feeling he could be shot 12 times in the back of the head and you would deem it an accident with your level of exacting analysis

 

[whosyourdaddy]

Read the source documents. I don't disagree it is an accident, no one does. But I have a feeling he could be shot 12 times in the back of the head and you would deem it an accident with your level of exacting analysis

You would come to the same conclusion, but only if he was a democrat!!

 

[tekmom]

As someone who grew up around hunters my whole life, I do believe that this was an accident. It happens. I just PERSONALLY believe that after the authorities were notified, the White House should have made some sort of a statement. This is the Vice President and the internet can be brutal in regard to rumors spreading. All it would take, would be for someone to say that... the Vice President was involved in a shooting...then...he's been shot..then....you get the idea. No, it's not exactly national security but not saying anything gave this story legs. The administration should have seen this coming from a mile away. Wishing Mr. Whittington a speedy recovery.

 

[FergieTCat]

If that is the case, then the poeple who we should be questioning, if need be, is the authoritoes involved. It is up to the authorities to do what is necessary. It is obvious they think there is nothing suspicious or criminal involved. Accident, plain and simple.

If the incident wasn't reported to the authorities until the next day, how would the authorities know about it before then?

 

[Geoff_M]

...the White House should have made some sort of a statement.

I wonder if there's precedence? You think the White House issued any statements after that Burr/Hamilton "un-pleasantness"???

 

[hubby_of_newtodisney]

Again, think about an automobile accident.

It's an accident, but if you hit and injure another party, and it is your fault, you can be charged with a crime.

Operating a vehicle and operating a firearm are similar in this way. These objects come with a high level of responsibility with the fact that they can cause death and injury.

On the other hand, if I am walking down the street, and bump into someone who falls and hurts themselves, I probably won't be at fault. If I was running, without regard for others, I might be.

I'm not pointing blame, I'm not a lawyer, I'm not saying who is right or wrong, I'm just to thinking aloud (sort of).

 

[tekmom]

I wonder if there's precedence? You think the White House issued any statements after that Burr/Hamilton "un-pleasantness"???

Who knows! Lesson learned....if you have to turn behind you to get that quail, he got away.

 

[poohandwendy]

If the incident wasn't reported to the authorities until the next day, how would the authorities know about it before then?

Again, it WAS reported to the authorities shortly after it happened. It was reported to the PRESS the next day.

It's in the press release which was issued by the Sheriffs office, which was linked a few pages back....here it is again:http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0213061cheney1.html

 

[poohandwendy]

Read the source documents. I don't disagree it is an accident, no one does. But I have a feeling he could be shot 12 times in the back of the head and you would deem it an accident with your level of exacting analysis

Why would you presume to guess what I would or would not deem? I did read the source documents, btw.

 

[TheBellhop]

I'm sure he heard and did a little dance in his office to celebrate. Geez!

Oh good one! Bet you feel like the little comic.

Anyways, I feel really bad for both people. I'm sure Cheney is extremely sorry. If YOU hurt somebody badly due to an accident, how would you feel? I don't care what side of politics this is.

 

[FergieTCat]

Again, it WAS reported to the authorities shortly after it happened. It was reported to the PRESS the next day.

It's in the press release which was issued by the Sheriffs office, which was linked a few pages back....here it is again:http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0213061cheney1.html

And as I pointed out a few posts back, the owner of the ranch admits that she did not alert the authorities until the next day.

The newspaper it was printed in was from Corpus Christi, Texas.

 

[floridafam]

Haven't read all the replies but, IMO, there is no such thing as a minor heart attack.

 

[poohandwendy]

And as I pointed out a few posts back, the owner of the ranch admits that she did not alert the authorities until the next day.

Did you actually read the press release from the Sheriffs office? The one where they say they were notified shortly after the incident? Are you saying that the Sheriffs office is lying?

This has nothing to do with the owner of the ranch...the Secret Service notified the Sheriffs office.

I will paste the relevant portion, remember this is from the Sheriffs office:

Due to a lack of communication the personnel manning the front gate upon Kenedy County Officer's arrival did not have any information and were unaware of the incident. Sheriff Salinas was informed shortly after the incident by Secret Service Agents by phone due to incompatibility of radio equipment."

 

[sodaseller]

This is from the Corpus-Christi (Texas) Caller-Times, February 13, 2006:

Katharine Armstrong, one of the owners of the ranch, said the priority was to address Whittington’s injuries, and thus it didn’t occur to the family to contact the authorities.

"The sheriff came the next morning and took a statement." Armstrong said. "It did not even occur to me. It was not like somebody had robbed a filling station. It was not like a criminal thing."

While the Secret Service had the good sense to contact LE, the fact that Ms. Armstrong indicated that she did not tells you something about the credibility of the person that has provided the primary acoount of events to date. And lest anyone truly believe that she was too preoccupied with attending to Whittington's injuries to pause and contact LE, they did have time for dinner
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20060214-0016-cheney.html

She said Cheney stayed “close but cool” while the agents and medical personnel treated Whittington, then took him by ambulance to the hospital. Later, the hunting group sat down for dinner while Whittington was being treated, receiving updates from a family member at the hospital. Armstrong described Cheney's demeanor during dinner as “very worried” about Whittington.

and of course to call Karl Rove - http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/13/politics/13cnd-cheney.html?_r=1&hp&ex=1139893200&en=181b942291c6b3ef&ei=5094&partner=homepage&oref=slogin

"Chief of Staff Andy Card called the president around 7:30 p.m. to inform him that there was a hunting accident," a statement released today by the White House said. "He did not know the vice president was involved at that time. Subsequent to the call, Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove spoke with Mrs. Armstrong.

The first link explains what has apparently remained a mystery to some on the thread that claim to be in command of all the facts

Secret Service spokesman Eric Zahren said that about an hour after Cheney shot Whittington, the head of the Secret Service's local office called the Kenedy County sheriff to report the accident. “They made arrangements at the sheriff's request to have deputies come out and interview the vice president the following morning at 8 a.m. and that indeed did happen,” Zahren said.

At least one deputy showed up at the ranch's front gate Saturday evening and asked to speak to Cheney but was turned away by the Secret Service, Zahren said. There was some miscommunication that arrangements already had been made to interview Cheney the next morning, he said.

 

[poohandwendy]

just a friendly totally OT alert...everyone clean out your pm boxes, just in case someone is trying to send you one.

 

[FergieTCat]

I'll go one more round, then I"m out.

If the Secret Service did notify the sheriff's office, why didn't they question anyone until the next day, according to the owner of the ranch. Wouldn't she have noticed the Sheriff on her property?

Texans would never cover for Cheney ... never.

You know what ... it doesn't matter. Not that I wish any harm on Mr. Whittington, but even if he succumbs to further injury, nothing will happen to our VP.

Sodaseller -- I don't know if that was aimed at me, but I never said I was in control of all the facts. I just read what was written in a Corpus Christi newspaper. I get irritated when the media changes stories or conveniently forgets certain facts the next day.